CHOCOLATE STATE CAFE

TEA FOR THREE

Tea Parties! are a favorite at Chocolate State Cafe.  Cocoa, Chip and Fudge get dressed up for their afternoon tea party and engage in reading Poems, Storytelling and playing games.  A tea party can be a wonderful experience for children of all ages.  Dress Up tea parties are especially a great way for your child and their friends to enhance their imagination and have fun!  Tea parties are great for Birthdays, a great way to spend time with Moms, Grandparents, Sisters and Brothers.  Tea parties are a great way to build confidence, poise, self-esteem, and children can learn grace, sharing, caring, appreciation, respect and giving.  Below are some suggestions on giving a Tea Party for your child and some Tea Party links.  Enjoy!

HOW TO HAVE A TEA PARTY 

• Invite both boys and girls.  Boys also feel special when they dress up and enjoy interacting with children of the same age.

• Send out invitation to your guests.  Invitations are to educate your guests as to what to expect and prepare for, not just to tell them the time and place.

• Let them bring a friend.  A tea party is always more fun when shared with friends.

• Encourage dressing up.  Children feel special when they dress up.  Clothes make a statement about personality and style.

• Keep the menu simple.  Children generally do not eat smoked salmon and asparagus sandwiches.  A peanut butter mix of your choice or Cheese sandwiches are always a favorite.

• Generally children are not fond of tea, but they do enjoy cocoa, lemonade or punch as a substitution.  Another option is Chamomile tea with honey.

• Treats served should be decorative, delicious and easy to handle.  Sugar cookies, strawberries, brownies and Pound Cake are fine.

• Be sure to have the necessary items for a tea.  You will need a tea pot, china, cups and saucers, tea spoons, a sugar bowl and sugar tongs (always serve sugar in cubes not loose), a tea strainer, a lemon dish and fork, and serving utensils.  Forks if cake is served.  Knives if jam or cream is eaten on scones.  Each jam and cream dish must have it's own serving spoon.

• Whenever possible serve children with real china, cloth napkins, and silver spoons.  Always make them feel special!

     TEA PARTY ETIQUETTE TIPS

• It's okay to eat with your fingers

• A tea party consist of three courses: Savories and Sandwiches, Scone Course and Sweet Course.

• Take bites of the tiny sandwiches, never stuff the whole thing in your mouth.

• If using sugar, do not dip the sugar spoon into the tea.

• Stir sugar and/or milk with your tea spoon, and place the tea spoon on your saucer.

• Tea should be served from a teapot.

• If the tea is served hot, do not blow on the tea.  Leave the teacup on the table to cool.

TEA PARTY LINKS

Children & Tea - Provides information on how to have a tea party, the benefits and recipes.
Tea Recipes - Recipes for tea parties.
Afternoon Tea Party - Provides information on tea parties, recipes and links.